by MJ Carter
Ryan grabbed his phone from his pocket. On the second ring, Mark’s voice came through loud and clear. “Marko, we are up here at Cedars. We don’t know anything right now but it’s Sophie.” The line went dead in his hand.
****
Dr. Garrett Reynolds looked at Sophie and back at the chart in his hands. Clearing his throat, he spoke slowly and quietly. “Ms. Barringer, I am Dr. Reynolds. How is the nausea?”
Sophie looked up from her crackers and attempted a smile. “It’s better. I am still pretty dizzy but I think the fluids are helping a lot.”
“I have your test results. Your electrolytes are out of balance but the saline should help. Have you been eating?”
Shaking her head no, Sophie spoke. “I have been so nauseated that I haven’t eaten much. I have been trying to drink water but even that makes me sick.” As Dr. Reynolds took a seat on the stool next to her, Sophie continued. “I just went through a really tough breakup and I guess it just caught up with me.”
“We can give you a little something for the nausea. But I am afraid there isn’t much else we can do.” Clearing his throat, he put her chart down and looked her in the eye. “Sophie, you are pregnant. Our tests show you are only about four weeks along but I would like to do an ultrasound to make sure everything is going as expected. It’s very important that you eat a balanced diet right now. This isn’t just about you anymore.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Your blood work confirms you are four weeks pregnant. Is that the father in the hall?”
Sophie shook her head and tears ran down her cheeks. “How is this possible? I am on the pill. I have been for years.” Her hands ran over her belly and she froze. A baby. Oh God, oh God.
“Ms. Barringer, the pill is not 100% effective. And believe it or not, we see a lot of this. I want to do the ultrasound now. Is that ok with you?”
Sophie wiped her face and nodded. A baby. Butterflies erupted in her stomach. A baby. A sob escaped her throat, followed by a laugh. “Yes, I am ready.”
****
Mark ran through the door and skidded to a halt in front of Ryan. His face was pale and his hands shook. “What’s happening? What happened?”
Caleb rose from the line of chairs across from the exam room and spoke softly. “She passed out at work. We don’t know anything else.”
Mark spun and faced him. “Oh fucking fantastic. Of course you are here.”
Ryan gripped Mark’s forearm. “Don’t do this here. If he hadn’t seen her pass out, who knows what would have happened. We are all here for Sophie and no other reason. Let’s put this to rest just for today.”
“They haven’t told us anything other than she is dehydrated. She looked terrible man. She scared the hell out of me. She wasn’t responsive at all. I’m sorry man. I really am. I did a terrible thing to you and to her. She just needs to be ok.” Caleb broke and put his hands on his knees. “She just needs to be ok.”
Mark shut his eyes and took a deep breath. “Thank you for finding her. I mean it. Thank you.”
The exam room door opened and a nurse stepped out. “Mr. Allen?”
Caleb stood up. “Yes, that’s me.”
“She is asking for a Mr. Moretti. Could someone call him?”
“I’m Mr. Moretti. Is she ok?” A tear fell down his cheek.
“Yes sir, come with me please.” The nurse led Mark into the exam room. “Please have a seat. It is very important not to upset her. Ms. Barringer, are you ok?”
Sophie shook her head and looked at Mark. The flood gates opened and she sobbed. Mark sat on the bed and pulled her into him. “Whatever it is Soph, we can deal with this. Please don’t cry.”
“I will give you guys a minute. The doctor will be back shortly.” The nurse shut the door, shutting Caleb and Ryan on the other side.
Mark looked at Sophie. She was pale and the dark circles under her eyes and her sunken cheeks scared him. “You aren’t sleeping.”
“Either are you.”
Mark kissed her knuckles and sighed. “No. I’m not. It’s been a pretty hard week.” He wiped another tear from his cheek. “Please Sophie. Please tell me what’s happening.”
She took a long breath and looked down. Her hands shook. She needed to tell him. If the doctor returned with the ultrasound machine and she had kept quiet, she would be betraying him again. “Mark, I’m so sorry. I don’t know how else to tell you except to just say it.”
Mark’s spine stiffened. “Just say it Sophie. Whatever it is, for the love of God, just say it.”
“I’m pregnant.”
The room went completely silent. Mark’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped. The sound of his panicked breathing and his heart beat was all he heard. Sophie’s gaze bore into him trying to gauge any kind of reaction. He had a million. His mind raced. How? When? He should have been more careful. He was pissed. He was thrilled. He needed to forgive her. He couldn’t trust her. She was carrying his baby. A baby. No. It couldn’t be true. He would die if it was. He would die if it wasn’t. He loved her. He was furious with her.
The sound of the door opening again caught his attention. Dr. Reynolds walked through the door with a machine that looked very official. “Sophie, we are going to make sure everything is going according to schedule. Would you like this gentleman to step out?”
Mark stood. “I’m the father. I’m not leaving.” The father. Holy shit.
“I’m Dr. Reynolds.” He shook Mark’s hand. “Our Sophie here has had quite the shock today, as I am sure you have as well. We are going to be doing an ultrasound. Right now the fetus is only about the size of a poppy seed but we should be able to see the gestational sac. The first twelve weeks of the pregnancy are the most important. If we can get you through that, you have a very good chance of bringing home a healthy baby in about 9 more months. The nurse will make you an appointment with an OBGYN before you leave today so you can ask specific questions at that visit. Shall we get started?”
The ultrasound was invasive and Sophie tried to relax. Mark stared at the screen on the machine. His body was rigid and his breathing shallow. She took his hand and he looked at her. His half smile was more than she expected. Her heart leaped in her chest. This was something that they had created out of love. No matter what was happening to them, they would always be connected and share something so precious. She couldn’t hold back her tears..
Dr. Reynolds froze the picture and pointed to the screen. “There. Do you see the gestational sac? That is your baby. And everything is exactly as we expected it would be at four weeks. I will print this for you.”
Mark stared. Tears flooded his cheeks. “Our baby.” His hand moved to her stomach. “Our baby.”
Still in shock, Mark stood and took the black and white grainy image from the doctor. He walked to the doorway and opened it slowly. Ryan and Caleb jumped up from the chairs and froze when they saw his face.
“What’s happening. Is she ok?” Caleb rushed to him with Ryan at his heels. “What did the doctor say?”
Without saying a word, Mark handed Ryan the picture and walked to the line of chairs. Ryan stood staring at the picture with wide eyes. Caleb grabbed it and studied it with tears in his eyes. “Holy shit.”
Chapter 18
Mark sat at the bar in his new kitchen reading the newspaper. The last few weeks had passed by in a blur. Sophie had been extremely sick but the doctor continued to reassure them this was a good sign. Mark had battled his demons with Caleb and had forgiven him. He understood how easy it was to love Sophie and he couldn’t blame his friend for having good taste.
The road to healing with Sophie had been a little harder. Mark knew it would be. His life had been busy with a large contract at work and moving into his new home. Sophie had spent a week on the road with Molly promoting a new book and with her exhaustion, there had been little time to spend together. He had attended both appointments she had with their new doctor and he had called her every night. He still loved her fiercely but his heart was much more g
uarded. Forgiveness was one thing. Being in love again was something completely different.
Ryan came in from the back porch where he had been on the phone with his boss. “They want me to do an ad campaign for the gym. That’s crazy, right?”
Mark looked up from the paper. “Why is it crazy? Do it man. You work hard. Have some fun with it.”
Ryan looked around the new kitchen and then back at Mark. “What’s with the new ink? You’re going to look like me pretty soon.”
Mark chuckled and put the paper away. “Molly calls it my mid life crisis.”
The front door slammed and they both jumped. “Hi honey. I’m home.”
“Layla?” Mark walked to the kitchen doorway. “What are you doing here? I didn’t expect you until tomorrow.”
As Layla entered the kitchen, Ryan sat up a little straighter. Something about this woman made him speechless and he did not like being vulnerable. He took a deep breath and smiled as their eyes met.
“How are you Ryan?” Layla winked. She walked to the refrigerator and took a bottle of water from the top shelf. As she shut the door, the ultrasound picture caught her attention. She removed it from the door and stared dumbstruck. “What the hell is this? Why does it have Sophie’s name on it?” When Mark didn’t answer, her voice got louder. “What the hell is this? Is this real?”
“Sit.” It was a command and Layla followed it. “You are here early. I wasn’t expecting to have this talk right now. Or at all.”
“Oh my God.” Layla’s eyes filled with tears. “Mark, is this real?”
Ryan reached over and held her hand. The jolt of electricity was unexpected and Layla stared at him with a blank expression. Mark stood across from her and took the picture back. Placing it back on the refrigerator, he ran his hand over it and smiled. “I thought Sophie would have told you by now.”
“I haven’t talked to her. I mean, not really. I think we’ve spoken twice since the wedding and both times have been all about how she messed up, blah blah blah. I haven’t even told her I was moving. I thought it would be better in person since she was so depressed. Holy shit. I am going to be an aunt. An Aunt. Are you freaking out? I am freaking out. Wait. Are you together?” Her smile reassured him she was excited.
Mark laughed. Layla had a way of talking forever about nothing. “No. Not exactly. Hell, I don’t know. It’s complicated.”
Ryan groaned as Layla started speaking. It was obvious he felt the same way. “Well it doesn’t need to be. Yank your head out of your ass. If you want to be with her, be with her. Stop tiptoeing around like a scared kid. Claim what is yours. If you don’t want her, let it go. But this in between shit is not good for either of you.”
Mark put his head on the bar. “You are right. This needs to stop. And no, I am not freaking out. I am someone’s dad. That is the most amazing thing in the world.”
Layla finished her water and threw the empty bottle at him. “Come on Ryan. Be my hero and help me get my bags up to my room. Make yourself useful.”
Mark grabbed his phone from the counter. ‘Can you come by tonight? Any time is fine.’
Her response was simple. ‘Yes.’
‘I will send you the directions.’
‘See you tonight. I miss you Mark.’
Mark smiled. ‘I miss you too Soph. You have no idea how much.’
****
Sophie parked her car in front of the massive garage and got out slowly. Was she at the right place? She surveyed the front of the house. Huge. She shook her head and laughed. She had heard very little about the house and she was shocked to see the massive structure in front of her. Several moving boxes were thrown onto the front porch. “This must be it,” she mumbled to herself as she rang the door bell.
Mark answered the door in a bathing suit, hair wet from a swim. “Hey beautiful. Come in. I’m sorry. I was hoping I had time to take a shower before you got here.” He kissed her on the cheek and led her into the foyer. “Want a tour?”
Sophie gasped at the marble floors and large staircase. “Yes.” Her voice was breathless. “This is amazing Mark.”
He held her hand and led her through the first floor. He pointed out the pool and view with a smile on his face and continued into the kitchen and even showed her the garage. Moving to the second floor, he pointed out several bedrooms and bathrooms and an office. He quickly pointed into the master bedroom as his nerves got the better of him. “And this, well, I thought this could be the nursery. I am right next door and it gets morning sun and has a beautiful view for the middle of the night feedings.”
Sophie smiled and leaned into him. “It is perfect. Just perfect. I couldn’t have picked anything any better.”
Mark wrapped his arms around her and she let out the breath she had been holding. He pulled her tightly against his chest and kissed her neck. “I’m glad you like it. I picked it for you.” Her body stiffened and he smiled. “Come on. There is one more room. There is a small third floor that has a bedroom and a bathroom and a nice balcony.”
Sophie stopped outside the closed door of the third floor room. Mark paused and knocked and she gave him a questioning look. “I got us a live in babysitter so we can have a life. If you want one I mean.”
The door opened and Sophie squealed. “Layla. What are you doing here?”
Layla pulled her into a big hug and then dropped to her knees and spoke to her belly. “Hi baby. Your daddy thought you might need to have your aunt around to teach you all the things your mommy and daddy don’t think you should know. I will be here for as long as you need me”
Sophie looked at Mark. Her tears flowed down her cheeks and she laughed. “She lives here?” Mark nodded and smiled. She jumped into his arms. “Thank you Mark.”
As she held him, the walls he had put up all crashed to the ground. His future was so clear. She was everything he wanted. “Sit. Talk. I am going to take a shower and then we can have some dinner and talk.”
****
Sophie snuck into the master bedroom and shut the door. She kicked her shoes under the bed and pulled her sundress over her head. The sound of the shower came from the half closed bathroom door. She pushed her way in and smiled. The glass enclosed shower gave her a view of the most beautiful man she had ever seen. He had added some tattoos to his chest and arms and she couldn’t wait to trace them all with her tongue. The man was pure heaven. Just the thought of him turned her on. His muscles rippled as he shampooed his hair and turned his face into the stream of water.
Sophie opened the shower door and walked in. She reached out to touch his shoulder and he jumped. “Stay just like that.” She grabbed the soap and washed his back and shoulders. When she got to his arms, she kissed the new artwork. “This is nice.”
Mark cleared his throat. “Sophie, what are you doing?” He turned around to face her.
Her hands went right to the stars on his chest and traced them lightly. “I miss you. I miss kissing you and holding you. I miss your touch. I don’t want to be without you anymore.”
Mark swept her into his arms and kissed her. His kiss was slow and loving. Sophie squirmed in his arms wanting to be closer to him. She would never be able to be close enough. She ran her hands down his back and dug her nails into his ass. He moaned into her mouth.
Breaking the kiss, she dropped to her knees and before he could stop her, she took his length into her mouth. Her hands and mouth worked in perfect harmony rubbing up and down his shaft. His breathing became strained. “Jesus Sophie.” His hands slapped onto the sides of the shower stall. She smiled as she looked up at him and teased him as she took him into her mouth again. He closed his eyes and groaned. Her mouth was so warm. When he realized he couldn’t wait any longer, he tugged her to her feet.
“I need to be inside you.” He turned the water off and picked her up. She wrapped her arms and legs around him and sucked the water from his neck. He put her down gently in front of the bathroom mirror and bent her over. “This is room one. I plan to have you in ever
y room of this house.”
He eased into her from behind and sighed. Her eyes met his in the mirror as he started to thrust into her. Her face was flushed. She smiled a sexy smile at him as he picked up speed. Reaching around her, he circled her clit with his fingers. She bit her bottom lip but kept eye contact with him. Her movement became more frantic and he knew she was close. He pinched her nipple with his other hand and bit her shoulder. She came apart around him, clenching him with her slick walls. Her legs buckled but he held her up. “Not yet. You aren’t done yet.” Her hooded eyes met his again. More moisture pooled around him and he grabbed her hair and pulled back lightly. She moaned. “You like that baby?”
She nodded and found her voice. “God yes. Harder Mark. I need more.”
“What do you want baby?” His strokes slowed as he waited for an answer. “Tell me.”